CHAPTER 2: When Interviewers Get It Wrong — What “Happiness” Really Reveals in an Interview
✍️ by A. Al-Sheikh
In a previous post, we unpacked how a candidate answering “Happiness” to the question “How do you define success?” isn’t necessarily weak — it can be thoughtful, insightful, and deeply human, if explained well.
But let’s shift the lens now — What happens when interviewers respond poorly to that answer?
Too often, candidates who say something like “Success for me is happiness” are met with comments such as: “‘So if you’re not happy, there’s no success?’ ‘We’re not here to make people happy.’ ‘Everyone is replaceable.’” Or — more passively — a raised eyebrow, a chuckle, a dismissive tone.
Let’s call this what it is: toxic interviewing behavior. These reactions are: - Dismissive of individual values - Tone-deaf to emotional intelligence - Damaging to the candidate experience - And most worryingly, reflective of culture — not just individual bias.
An interview should be a conversation, not a performance under pressure. The purpose isn’t to “test” the candidate’s nerves or beliefs — it’s to understand alignment: - Do their values fit your team? - Do they bring perspective that strengthens your environment? - Can you offer what they’re looking for in their next chapter?
When a candidate mentions happiness, it’s not about naïve optimism. It’s often about: - Purpose - Psychological safety - Work-life integration - Feeling valued and respected Isn’t that what most of us are actually looking for?
If a candidate says: “Success for me is happiness.” You don’t need to agree. But you can seek to understand. Try: - “That’s interesting. What does happiness at work look like for you?” - “Can you share how that’s shown up in your past roles?” - “How do you balance that with challenges or high-pressure situations?”
This opens the door to authentic conversation — where both parties learn something.
Studies from the University of Warwick and other leading institutions have shown that happy employees are up to 12–20% more productive. Why? Because they: - Feel more engaged - Take ownership of their work - Are more collaborative - Show higher resilience and lower turnover
So no — happiness is not a distraction from success. It’s often a driver of it.
Success isn’t just KPIs, promotions, or profit margins. It’s also: - How people feel when they go home. - Whether they can be themselves at work. - Whether they’re thriving — or just surviving.
So when a candidate says “Happiness,” pause before you push back. Because that one word might just reveal more about them — and you — than you think.
It’s time we reframe interviews from “who can impress whom” to “can we create something great — together.” Let’s not ridicule candidates for bringing their humanity to the table. Let’s reward it.
#Leadership #Recruitment #InterviewTips #HiringRight #EmotionalIntelligence #HumanWorkplaces #RespectMatters #CandidateExperience #CultureFit